Bernard Schoenburg: Coffey’s headlines’ don’t tell the story

Wednesday

Mar 30, 2011 at 12:01 AMMar 30, 2011 at 1:08 AM

As a newspaper guy, I should welcome the use of newspaper headlines to make points in a campaign. But a MIKE COFFEY JR. TV ad uses one from 28 years ago that is clearly taken out of context and another that also arguably misses its mark.

As a newspaper guy, I should welcome the use of newspaper headlines to make points in a campaign. But a MIKE COFFEY JR. TV ad uses one from 28 years ago that is clearly taken out of context and another that also arguably misses its mark.

Coffey is trying to paint former Mayor MIKE HOUSTON as a tax-raiser, though none of the four candidates for Springfield mayor on Tuesday’s ballot say they want to raise taxes. A Coffey ad that attacks both “outside special interests” donating to SHEILA STOCKS-SMITH and Houston’s record cites two headlines from the April 19, 1983, State Journal-Register: “City property tax bills to be higher,” says one. “Proposed tax hike gets Houston nod” is the other.

But the old stories don’t back Coffey’s spin, which seems to be that Houston is a tax-raiser.
The “tax bills” story states: “Almost all the increase is a result of higher taxes imposed by Springfield School District 186 to begin paying off two recent bond issues. …” It says the schools caused a rate increase of just more than 40 cents per $100 of assessed value, but other taxing bodies lowered rates.

“The city of Springfield’s tax rate dropped the most, falling almost a nickel,” the article states.
So, here’s Coffey attacking Houston’s record, but using a story showing that the city’s property tax bite went down.

The other story about the “Houston nod” for a tax increase was actually about how Houston and 23 other members of the Illinois Municipal League board of directors at the time backed a revised state income tax increase proposal made by the administration of then-Gov. Jim Thompson. The new version made the proposed state tax increase temporary and continued to give cities a share of the take. Thompson’s proposed “doomsday budget,” with no increase, would have eliminated the municipal cut of income taxes, costing Springfield $1 million.

“From the standpoint of the municipal league, we have no choice but to support the increase,” Houston said at the time.

“The headline said the city raised property taxes, and that is accurate,” Coffey told me. “It indicates that Houston was supportive of tax increases.” Coffey, of course, thinks Houston will go that way again.

Coffey didn’t seem to understand that using headlines from stories that don’t make your point could be the wrong way to go. He also pointed me to a May 9, 1986, story — not referenced in the commercial — as proof that Houston raised property taxes. Actually, that story was about a mix-up — the city tax rate stayed at $1 per $100 of assessed value, though a county clerk’s calculation had lowered it to 98 cents. Houston said then the rate stayed the same, and, said the story, “City records back him up.”

Houston actually did raise revenue through, for example, a sales tax — which was paired with a lowering of the property tax. But Coffey campaigners apparently couldn’t find a clear enough headline to use in their TV propaganda.

Coffey’s ads are being produced by Divine Mulvey, a Washington, D.C., firm that defines itself on its website as Democratic and touts its winning ways in campaigns of people like the late U.S. Sen. EDWARD KENNEDY, D-Mass., and U.S. Sen. BERNIE SANDERS, a Vermont independent.

FRANK KUNZ hasn’t been a TV-ad candidate, but he did put $5,000 into his own campaign this week and was purchasing radio spots.

Meanwhile, a cute video available on the Web, which includes clips from “Rocky” movies, is about Coffey coming on strong in the mayor’s race. It uses the same headlines, and others, that were in that ad attacking Houston.

“I have some idea, but I’m not sure,” Coffey said when asked who put together the video. “It’s definitely not my campaign.”

Logan ready to help Houston
WILLIS “BILL” LOGAN may find himself back in the city work force if Houston wins another term as mayor.

Logan, a Springfield Park Board member who worked in city government and headed the Springfield Housing Authority, is co-chair of the Houston campaign. However, he seemed surprised when I told him that, when pressed about top staff and diversity in a potential Houston administration, the candidate told the editorial board of The State Journal-Register last week that he hopes Logan would again become part of city government.

Houston called Logan a “very talented individual” who is “very familiar with the city.” Both men say they have not talked of possible employment for Logan.

Logan, 66, who calls himself “semi-retired,” has kept pretty busy since leaving the SHA in 2005. Although he isn’t seeking another park board term, he just finished two years as president of the Springfield Club of Frontiers International, is treasurer of the Illinois Association of Park Districts and is vice president of the Citizens Club of Springfield.

Logan was director of what was then called the city human relations department under Mayor BILL TELFORD and was director of community development — handling economic development initiatives — under Houston. He also has worked at the state commerce agency in areas such as housing, job training and economic development.

Houston said his intent is to have a work force “reflective of our population” in race and gender.
Logan, who is black, insists his backing of Houston has nothing to do with any potential job.
“Mike Houston and I have known each other for 35 years,” said Logan. “I have a lot of respect for him. I think he is a great leader. … All of the wisdom that he has learned and gained throughout the years … means we need Houston more than he needs us.

“When I talked to Mike a year ago” to encourage him to run, Logan said, “I wasn’t talking to him about a job.”

Logan did say he’s flattered that he was mentioned by Houston and that he has told Houston “I stand ready to help him in any way I can.”

Bernard Schoenburg is political columnist for The State Journal-Register. He can be reached at 788-1540 or bernard.schoenburg@sj-r.com.